State Opening of Parliament: Queen uses Palace lift for first time

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-s-speech.html

Her Majesty's knees force her to take a Westminster lift for the first time before her 63rd Queen's speech

- Palace spokesman said 'modest adjustment' made for the Queen's comfort
- Queen, 90, took lift with Prince Philip, 94, to avoid set of 26 large steps
- Royals bypassed the steep royal staircase at the Sovereign’s Entrance

Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip today seated on the Thrones in the House of Lords

The Queen was today forced to use a lift ahead of her 63rd Queen's speech for the first time because of her troublesome knees.

The 90-year-old had asked to avoid the 26 steps of the royal staircase at the Sovereign’s Entrance because it would be less painful and faster. Today Her Majesty and husband Prince Philip, who is 94, took a lift up to the robing room where she put on the Royal Robes and the Imperial State Crown. A Palace spokesman said the 'modest adjustment' had been made for the Queen’s comfort.

Her Majesty is well known for her good health, which still allows her to carry out hundreds of duties every year, far more than younger royals including Prince William. But her knees have also suffered wear and tear as a result - In 2011 she was forced to give up riding regularly, her favourite pastime, because of chronic pain.

A year later in 2012 she took a lift down after an event at Westminster - but the incident turned into a shambles. She and Prince Philip had wanted to go down one floor - pressed the button - but it went up a floor instead. A peer waiting for the lift upstairs was then shocked to come face to face with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. The door closed again and sent them up again, rather than down, this time to Parliament's archives. Finally after a third failure they were returned to the same floor they started on and had to go down the stairs anyway.

The Queen's knee pain has meant that she has had to have a £1million lift installed at her Sandringham home. In 2003 she twice had key-hole surgery to remove torn cartilage from each of her knees. Her majesty's knees have suffered because of her long walkabouts and ceremonies that require her to remain standing for long periods. She was also said to be suffering from sciatica – pain caused by pressure from her spine on the sciatic nerve in her back and leg.

The Imperial State Crown has been moved from Jewel House @TowerofLondon to Buckingham Palace ready for #QueensSpeech pic.twitter.com/PXPgtAywk3

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 18, 2016

The Queen has never appeared to be in pain but some have noted a ‘slight stoop’ at times and sources have told the Mail she has in the past been putting on a brave face. A well-placed royal source said in 2011: ‘The Queen had a knee operation but has suffered ever since and the condition has got a lot worse. She is in so much pain that she has had to give up her beloved riding.

‘If she did have another op she could only have it in summer as she would need four months to recover.’ The monarch is renowned for her good health, energy and dedication to her duties. Since taking the throne 64 years ago in 1952, she has carried out hundreds of royal engagements every year, including state visits abroad and countless ceremonies, investitures and walkabouts in front of flag-waving crowds.

Hmmm a rare sign that age is catching up on her.

How much longer she could go on carrying out these ceremonies is the question. Her mother lived to 101 and was in amazing health, but surely even the Queen Mother couldn't have worn the heavy Imperial State Crown along with the rest of the regalia from her mid-90s onwards. And of course, the fact her mother was in such great health until the final couple of months doesn't mean the same for the Queen herself. I would have thought this year having overtaken Queen-Empress Victoria they would have started using Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown as a suitable replacement as well as a nod to the historical context.

My guess is still that if Prince Philip goes or her health got to point where she could still do it but it was a struggle then there will be a Regency declared.

Thoughts?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Hmmm.

A temporary handrail will be installed on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral for the Queen in June when she attends a service for her 90th.

— Peter Hunt (@_PeterHunt) May 18, 2016